tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61064012830430865742014-10-05T00:01:19.648-07:00People Who Want Change"People Who Want Change" is a photo and interview project profiling people who want Change. I define "change" as wanting to alter your perception of the status-quo, though I'm open to all interpretations. This blog features photos/interviews with some fascinating activists who are working to create change in some capacity.Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-47730604584126840972010-11-08T16:25:00.000-08:002010-11-08T17:15:59.173-08:00JAMI LEIGH HOWARDThis is Jami. She's a recent North Carolina transplant. Jami works in nonprofit and is also a talented singer (Check out her website here: http://www.jamihoward.webs.com/). She is a huge fan of Broadway (especially the show "Next to Normal") and is very involved with the progressive Christian movement. Jami and I have had fun times at coffee and cupcake shops. She's a lovely person and good friend. Enjoy meeting Jami!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXtFn7hvI/AAAAAAAAA7A/0QQk4dQ8B0w/s1600/IMG_0986.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXtFn7hvI/AAAAAAAAA7A/0QQk4dQ8B0w/s320/IMG_0986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537342542711588594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who Are You?</span><br />A lover, a creative creator of creations, an artist of sorts, a hugger, a listener, and an embracer of change.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you believe in?</span><br />I believe in a God that loves all people. I believe that one day my life story will be a musical on Broadway. I believe that staying a child at heart is a lot more exciting than shutting out all the fun in the world.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br />The "good" kind of change, is what I hope to see. I hope to see a change in peoples opinions towards many things, but like everything it'll take time--but I think we are definitely moving in the right direction. I see myself supporting change and supporting my friends that are activists in changing this world. They are much braver than I, and I applaud and deeply respect them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXsrYNILI/AAAAAAAAA64/eTjdAaVzfXg/s1600/IMG_0987.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXsrYNILI/AAAAAAAAA64/eTjdAaVzfXg/s320/IMG_0987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537342535666311346" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><br />This is a tough question for me, as my iPod is currently the soundtrack of my life and has way too many songs/artists to name. But, I WILL say that there would definitely be Jon Brion, Eric Whitacre, Stephen Sondheim, Lady Gaga, and Joni Mitchell.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</span><br />Well I've always wanted to live in NYC, and I'm doing that now. I've also always wanted to work towards bettering the community I live in, and I'm currently working with a non-profit here that is doing just that. Next on my list of what I want to do with my life is to entertain. Whether through playing guitar, singing, writing, poetry, creating...whatever it is, I know someday it'll happen--at just the right moment. While that moment isn't "now", I'm enjoying the wait.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Can't Live Without...</span><br />Chapstick, Coffee, Incense, My iPod, My home family, and My beautiful NYC family.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiZ2LZXHTI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Lf-0vTNEulk/s1600/IMG_0988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiZ2LZXHTI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/Lf-0vTNEulk/s320/IMG_0988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537344897903172914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you craving right now?</span><br />Right now I am craving Pad Thai...even though I may or may not (but probably may) have had it already today for lunch. Story of my life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</span><br />Mary Martin in Peter Pan. I watched it as a child and knew that I wanted to pursue the arts...and also that I'm a belter.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXsGXAaaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/tSQR3Ve5k2Y/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXsGXAaaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/tSQR3Ve5k2Y/s320/IMG_0893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537342525729171874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />Working in non-profit is tough--but I believe in working toward a greater community. Not just volunteering for one day and saying "wow, I made such a big impact", but instead working year round and knowing that I'm making a difference, but it's almost a dent of a difference. This is something that I'm okay with, because I have such a huge heart for the organization that I work with, and with our partnered volunteer sites around the city that are bettering our city, one day at a time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />Oh wow, definitely Rosie Monroe, aka the woman from the ever classic Norman Rockwell painting of Rosie the Riveter "We Can Do It!" She was a hardcore/fierce lady and I would have loved to have known her and know more about her.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXrhmR-mI/AAAAAAAAA6o/SabibiXaaS4/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXrhmR-mI/AAAAAAAAA6o/SabibiXaaS4/s320/IMG_0944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537342515861125730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />I would have to say, Jo March from Little Women. Not only did I play this role on stage but I completely embodied the character, because of our ridiculous similarities. Just as Jo was busy writing away about things in her life, mixed with a little bit of fiction...whilst dealing with heavy things in real life...I completely relate. I often wish that I had an abandoned attic to run up to, to escape and create.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />Moving to NYC. Hands down. I've wanted to live here since I can remember. Before I even really new what New York was--I just knew they had theatre, and that's where I wanted to be. I never would've imagined that I'd be living here. Sometimes walking back to my apartment, groceries in hand, I still can't believe that this is where my home is now. So I suppose that answers the question. It's still happening and I still learn something new every day--I couldn't be happier and couldn't be more sure that this is where I'm supposed to be.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is/are your hero(es)?</span><br />I don't have any specific heroes, but I do have my own idea of what a hero is. I see a hero as being honest, invested in the community, working towards a better tomorrow, a big heart, and loving of all. Some of the people that might fit this category would be my family and friends, anyone who stands up for what they believe in, various Broadway actors/actresses, Mother Theresa, Harvey Milk, Martin Luther King Jr...this list could really go on and on.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXtmaRIuI/AAAAAAAAA7I/YVy0EhBKXKw/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiXtmaRIuI/AAAAAAAAA7I/YVy0EhBKXKw/s320/IMG_0982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537342551512654562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Create a mandatory reading list for the world.</span><br />in no particular order...<br />Letters to a Young Artist - by Anna Deavere Smith<br />The B.F.G. - by Roald Daul<br />Hope For the Flowers - by Trina Paulus<br />Blue Like Jazz - Donald Miller<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiZ2tBBZ5I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/vW5nskNzmMo/s1600/IMG_0985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 304px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TNiZ2tBBZ5I/AAAAAAAAA7Y/vW5nskNzmMo/s320/IMG_0985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537344906927892370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">See more of Jami's pictures, here:</span> http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/11/08/Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-57742790252400589842010-10-23T19:44:00.000-07:002010-10-24T07:50:31.599-07:00NORA KENNEDYNow here's my proud momma moment... I have known Nora for quite some time now. She was in the ORIGINAL cast of "GirlPower" at the Manhattan Theatre Source in 2008 (when Elizabeth and I first took it over, way before we were Project Girl Performance Collective). I remember her sweet 17-year-old self coming in for the audition and talking with us about high school, body image and feminism. I have had the privilege of working with her over the past few years on projects with Co-Op Theatre East and the Project Girl Performance Collective. Now, she's a freshman at Pace University, studying history. I am incredibly proud of all her accomplishments and to work with such a young, talented force of nature. She is destined for great things and I look forward to watching them unfold!<br /><br /><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg98FnlyI/AAAAAAAAA4I/OvqNRw_YKaY/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531441753303258914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg98FnlyI/AAAAAAAAA4I/OvqNRw_YKaY/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Who are you?</strong><br /><div><div><div><div>I am Nora Kennedy. I am an actor, singer, dancer, artist, history nerd, writer, Pisces, college freshman, and a very old soul. I am a stubborn girl who doesn’t like to do what everyone else does, and I’m always full of surprises. </div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531441741812168050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg9RR7dXI/AAAAAAAAA34/h-FAu53ifTM/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>What do you believe in?</strong> </div><div>I believe that there is no such thing as “normal”-being normal isn’t normal. I also think it is important for people to take one moment out of their day to breathe and notice their surroundings, find something they love about where they are and who they are. I believe that the only way to get out there and achieve one’s dreams is to just do it. It’s not as simple as it sounds, I know, but it’s more effective than staying at home, watching YouTube all day.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531441748889546002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg9rpTrRI/AAAAAAAAA4A/xx5w9yBPd4g/s320/IMG_0061.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</strong> </div><div>I want to see more people turning off whatever electronic devices they own (cell phone, computer, television, kindle, etc.), and get active in something. Be it theater, dance, school, music, art, activism, writing or just reading a book. People need to do less staring at screens (of any kind), and do more thinking. I see myself fitting into this because, like I said, I am an old soul, so I’m not a huge fan of technology (even though it does make life easier sometimes). However, I would much rather rely on my own mind rather than the Internet. That’s the kind of change I would like to see in the world. </div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531441740734350722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg9NQ9RYI/AAAAAAAAA3w/RoagOvXogR0/s320/IMG_0053.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</strong> </div><div>Oh boy, here we go! Okay, this in no particular order: The Beatles, Cab Calloway, Edith Piaf, Patti LuPone, Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Jenny Lewis, Judy Garland, The Like, Tilly &amp; The Wall, Those Darlins, Dr. Dog, Jefferson Airplane, Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, The Band, Ella Fitzgerald, Beirut, Blossom Dearie, Peggy Lee, The Pogues, Fleet Foxes, Dum Dum Girls, Okkervil River, The Dubliners, Animal Collective, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Mamas &amp; the Papas, The Clancy Brothers, Florence and the Machine, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch, Iron &amp; Wine, Girls, The Tallest Man on Earth, Amy Winehouse, MGMT, Beirut, Department of Eagles, Chopin, Rufus Wainwright, Grizzly Bear, The Ink Spots, Cyndi Lauper, Aretha Franklin, Simon &amp; Garfunkel, She &amp; Him, George Gershwin, Pavarotti, Rossini, anything Sondheim and (again) THE BEATLES! I’m kind of a music buff, in case you can’t already tell. </div><br /><div><strong>If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</strong> </div><div>I would be breaking down a script, learning some music, and stretching out for dance. That would be ideal!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531441734373494114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOg81kaTWI/AAAAAAAAA3o/LW0ADNizjCM/s320/IMG_0074.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>I Can't Live Without...</strong> </div><div>Books, music, laughter, love, theater, creativity. They are all essential to my being, and I’m sure that I would crash if I lost any one of them. </div><br /><div><strong>What are you craving right now? </strong></div><div>Scones. I’m always craving scones. They are the absolute best!</div><br /><div><strong>Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong> </div><div>It would definitely have to be, “Documentary: a Suicide Narrative.” Until I was part of that cast, I had really only been in shows at my high school, but this production was so New York—I thought, “Wow, this is what being an actor is really like… I will take it!” For me, being a part of that production refined what it means to be an actor—absolute dedication and effort no matter what.<br /><br /></div><div><strong>What motivates you to do what you do?</strong> </div><div>The fact that I’m not like every other girl who aspires to be on stage. There is so much emphasis on the glamorous side of being an actor, yet very few end up pursuing the career because they want fame without having to do the work. Although fame sounds appealing, I would much rather do the work because it’s always interesting, and stretches one’s creativity. Being famous for the sake of being famous would be boring and unfulfilling.</div><br /><div><strong>If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</strong> </div><div>Edgar Allen Poe. I’m a little bit in love with him. His works had such a great influence over me while I was growing up. I’d like to find out what his inspirations were, and why he married his fourteen year-old cousin… I’m not judging that relationship, I’m just curious. </div><br /><div><strong>If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</strong> </div><div>I just finished reading the published books out of the Mary Russell series by Laurie R. King, and am kind of obsessed with them. The first book, The Beekeeper’s Apprentice, starts off with Mary Russell walking through a field where she stumbles upon a retired Sherlock Holmes, and eventually becomes his apprentice. I would love to play Mary Russell—she’s an incredibly smart feminist in the early 20th century, plus she works with Sherlock Holmes! How much better could it get?<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445266051059282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOkKaF9TlI/AAAAAAAAA4Y/0DP4uE9Ij5E/s320/IMG_0086.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</strong> </div><div>The first time I was onstage was the defining moment in my life. My mother had enrolled me in a local ballet school at the age of two because I was constantly dancing to “The Nutcracker,” or “The Sound of Music” in our living room. We had our recital later that spring. I was three years old by that time. Before the recital even began, I snuck out onstage and began dancing in front of everyone. My ballet teacher attempted to get me off of the stage two times, but I kept climbing back on because I loved being in front of the audience so much. In the end, my mother had to pull me off, and I was told to sit with her until my class had to perform. I learned then and there that the stage was where I was meant to be, as cliché as that might sound. But I just love seeing and hearing the audience’s reaction, and I think that is a vital relationship a stage actor has to work with.<br /><br /></div><div><strong>Talk about the best day ever.</strong> </div><div>Going to ballet, swimming, taking a walk with my mom and dad, visiting my acting coach, and eating ice cream and watching all seven seasons of, “House,” while snuggling with my dogs, Clarence and Percival. </div><br /><div><strong>Who is/are your heroes?</strong> </div><div>Patti LuPone, The Beatles (all four of them), Sherlock Holmes, Betty Boop, Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Marilyn Monroe, Meryl Streep, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant (he’s also my husband), Grace Kelly, Vivien Leigh, my sister, my acting coach and mentor, Peter Flint, and of course my incredible parents.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445268508549010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOkKjP3n5I/AAAAAAAAA4g/-5NzGJDSQ68/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>Create a required reading list for the world:<br /></strong>Night-Eli Wiesel<br />The Book Thief-Markus Zusak<br />Lysistrata-Aristophanes<br />The Beekeeper's Apprentice-Laurie R. King<br />The Hound of the Baskervilles-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle<br />The Woods-David Mamet<br />Persepolis-Marjane Satrapi<br />Ishmael-Daniel Quinn<br />Gone With the Wind-Margaret Mitchell<br />The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains-Nicholas Carr<br />A World Lit Only by Fire-William Manchester</div><br /><br /><div><strong>For more pictures of Nora, click here:</strong> <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/10/24/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/10/24/</a></div></div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531445260928561634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TMOkKHAqMeI/AAAAAAAAA4Q/otfWBNDkeu0/s320/IMG_0041.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-34508778294556198392010-10-17T18:04:00.000-07:002010-10-17T19:09:46.538-07:00ALISON TANNEYFolks, meet Alison. A fun loving, energetic, theatre geek (aren't we all). I met Alison in undergrad at Pace. She graduated with a BFA in Acting a few years after I did. I directed her in "Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens" and we were cast mates in "The Trojan Women" at Pace University. We had a blast exploring Lincoln Center and catching up on life after a few years. I definitely would love to work with her again in the future.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLugjW92agI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/YiFbSLlLmd4/s1600/IMG_3099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529189496848280066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLugjW92agI/AAAAAAAAA3Q/YiFbSLlLmd4/s320/IMG_3099.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>1. Who Are You?<br /></strong>I’m a funny, smart, sarcastic, animated, theater loving, hopeless romantic living in New York City. I also happen to be an aspiring actress! YAY!<br /><br /><div><div><div><div><strong>2. What do you believe in?<br /></strong>I strongly believe that everything happens for a reason. I also believe in karma, honesty, good friendships, family, love, theater, and when I turn 24 great things will start happening in my life.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529189481780781378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLugie1eoUI/AAAAAAAAA2w/4WQe8MuReDo/s320/IMG_3075.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?<br /></strong>I want to see original musicals on Broadway that’s not based on a movie or anything like that. And a better economy would be nice. Also for Hollywood to STOP making remakes of certain movies. If they EVER make a remake of The Sound of Music…heads will roll!!!!</div><br /><div><strong>4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</strong><br />This question brings me back to junior year of high school where we had to fill this question in our Soul Journal. We had to pick about 5 songs on one page…I filled out about 10 pages. Now to answer the question… Coldplay is a MUST! Also, Maroon 5, The Spring Standards, Keane, show tunes, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bublé, classic rock, Disney music, 80’s music, big band music, Britney Spears, Madonna, Kyle Minogue and the greats: Barbara Streisand and Julie Andrews.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?<br /></strong>Working in theater acting and/or directing. Yes, Broadway is a dream but I would just love to be a working actor and getting chances to direct. </div><br /><div><strong>6. I Can't Live Without...</strong><br />Family, friends, theater, movies, television and music.</div><br /><div><strong>7. What are you craving right now?</strong><br />To perform, sing and direct…I just want to do something creative. And chocolate.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529189494670170322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLugjO2jGNI/AAAAAAAAA3I/0iPP0I0Vg4I/s320/IMG_3092.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><strong>8. Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong><br />The Light in the Piazza, The History Boys and Next Fall are the three pieces of theater that I’ve seen that has had such an affect on me. The Light in the Piazza is my favorite musical. It has a beautiful score, story and makes me wish that one day when I travel to Italy and I will meet a beautiful Italian man named Fabrizio. And seeing Liev Schreiber in Talk Radio. There was a moment in the play, unfortunately I can’t remember which part, where I stopped and said to myself, “Wow. So that’s what acting is.” </div><br /><br /><div><strong>9. What motivates you to do what you do?</strong><br />My theater, my family, my friends, different things I read (quotes, memoirs, etc.).</div><br /><br /><div><strong>10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</strong><br />William Shakespeare. I honestly don’t know where my love from him stemmed from but I’ve always loved him. I did a presentation on him freshmen year of high school where I dress up like him. I think he’s just an interesting person. He wrote all of these plays and some people don’t think he did because of his education level. Also, he came up with many words we use today and there were a few “last years” where people don’t know what he was doing! So yeah, I would say William Shakespeare. On a side note, I would also want to be BFF’s with Conan O’Brien, Kathy Griffin, Joan Rivers, and Laura Linney. Just sayin’…</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529195427577704050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLul8kp7rnI/AAAAAAAAA3g/uGFeFF7d9S4/s320/IMG_3111.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?<br /></strong>Catherine in Proof. Proof in my favorite play and Catherine is my dream role. I know this character inside and out. She’s complex, emotional and feels alone. I want to play that part so badly! So yeah, I wouldn’t be another character in that play. Haha. I would also love to be on The Office. I could be Jo Bennett’s (Kathy Bates) niece and come to Dunder Mifflin Scranton with her to so I can learn the business and become a love interest for maybe Andy. It would be brilliant.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</strong> </div><div>I don’t know if there is just one moment that’s happened to me where I’ve stopped and said, “this is the most defining moment of my life” because I’m still experiencing things and learning about myself. I’ve already had moments of realizations but I believe there are more to come.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529195424096644290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLul8Xr-7MI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/fDT90GlBTZk/s320/IMG_3120.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong>13. Talk about the best day ever.</strong><br />Walking about the piazza in Italy with my man Fabrizio….WAIT! That’s my Light in the Piazza fantasy talking! It’s really a beautiful day in the city without having to worry about something that I have to do. I would walk around, see a show or a movie, maybe spend time with a friend or go to the Met.</div><br /><div><strong>14. Who is/are your hero(es)?<br /></strong>My family, my friends, and Laura Linney (an acting G-ddess.) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529189485847770338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TLugit_H9OI/AAAAAAAAA24/R-ecKha0XrA/s320/IMG_3138.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p>See more of Alison here: <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/10/17/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/10/17/</a></p>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-60703166078263352912010-10-02T18:19:00.000-07:002010-10-03T06:22:06.238-07:00JOANIE FRITZ ZOSIKEJoanie is the complete embodiment of activist and theatre practitioner. As a member of The Living Theatre (http://www.livingtheatre.org/) for over 20 years and downtown resident, she has seen both the artistic and architectural landscape of the area change drastically. I met Joanie a few years ago with Theatres Against War (http://www.thawaction.org/) and had the pleasure of working with her on COTE's production of Decadent Acts last season, where she played Mindy White (a character with polar opposite views from her own). I still have a poem about Mindy that she wrote while doing character work hanging up on my wall. Check out Joanie's insightful interview below and then RUN to the library to check out the books she recommends...<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhb0aQ8xI/AAAAAAAAA14/G9xzxUbBsvk/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhb0aQ8xI/AAAAAAAAA14/G9xzxUbBsvk/s320/IMG_2689.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523631336034726674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who are you?</span><br />A continuously forming living creature that, to a great extent knows her place and function in the universe. A woman who has lived and continues to. A daughter, a sister, a lover, a friend, an artist, an anarchist, a sack of water and an eternal soul. A wild woman, a wise woman and a perennial innocent.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you believe in?</span><br />I believe in alpha and omega, here and now, evolution, the BNVAR, the music of the spheres, the multiverse, reincarnation, the limitless light, forgiveness, compassion, unconditional love. I believe in everything until proven otherwise. I believe in the snake that swallows her own tail AKA eternity, reincarnation and time travel, life in the universes. I believe there is only one race, the human race, and I believe in its integral goodness. If pushed to the wall, I call all these things combined “God.”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcSyrjkI/AAAAAAAAA2I/_9JAhOyzK0A/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcSyrjkI/AAAAAAAAA2I/_9JAhOyzK0A/s320/IMG_2818.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523631344190197314" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br />I want to see an end to certain things, big-time. Things like racism, greed, avarice, ridiculous accumulation of wealth, poverty, hunger, slavery, homelessness. I guess that with the exception of the first thing (racism), it all comes down to money. Even then, money is a n operant force. An end to the money system. Then we could get down to the real works—science, art, poetry, music, philosophy, free education for all. Utopia? Sure, why not?! I try to fit into this idea for change through discipline and practice. If I disagree with someone’s opinion or action, I look first to myself for the breakdown in achieving understanding. Simone Weil said that the best way to teach was through demonstration. Rather than come across as some smart-ass blowhard arrogant know-it-all (although I’m sure I have played that role more than once in my life), I want to practice every day, to communicate when I hear something that is to me intolerable, to encourage dialogue, to, when possible, witness and testify whenever there’s injustice, either through action or writing<span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><br />Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, T Monk, Sun Ra, The Beatles, Youssef N’dour,, Fela, Baaba Maal, King Sunny Ade, Idir, Abdullah Ibrahim, Mali Divas, Taj Mahal, R&amp;B—ah hell, anything that tickles my ears. And bird song, and the wind in the desert, and thunder (if I’m indoors). Heartbeats. And the sounds of love.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhc_kCsfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/CYeNO408NLc/s1600/IMG_2744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhc_kCsfI/AAAAAAAAA2Y/CYeNO408NLc/s320/IMG_2744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523631356208394738" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be? </span>Having sex. Failing that, traveling. Failing that, acting. Failing that, writing. Failing that, sleeping.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Can't Live Without... </span><br />Others.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you craving right now?</span><br />My nightly glass of milk.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your lif</span>e...<br />Dada changed my life. Listening to the Pittsburgh Symphony in the orchestra pit sitting next to my Dad in the violin section, when I was a small child. Listening to my Mom play Chopin on the piano as I lay on the floor underneath the piano, also as a small child. And then I read Samuel Beckett. Then I read Artaud. Then I read Julian Beck, which led to Alexander Berkman, Petr Kropotkin, Errico Malatesta, Herbert Read, Peter Lanborn Wilson, William Godwin, Bakunin, Proudhon, Tolstoy, Chomsky….etc. Because art and anarchy go hand in hand, and both of them lead to freedom. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcrK9mnI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/5ste2NQdUpY/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcrK9mnI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/5ste2NQdUpY/s320/IMG_2820.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523631350734494322" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />Myself, I would hope; and after that, my conspirators.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />I’m tempted to say Anais Nin, because she inspired me at such an early age to keep a journal, which I began to do when I was 13, and have done until today, except for 10 years of my life, from 1995 to 2005. I love who Anais Nin was, those with whom she cavorted, and the lyricism of her writing, even when it sucked, which it sometimes did. I loved her diaries, her tales of her relationships with Artaud and Rousseau and Henry Miller. She wrote about incest, had affairs with women, swam in the surreal, and was the epitome of elegance. I would also liked to have known Jesus of Nazareth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />Mother Courage. The character is intertwined with my voice, my stance, persistence, will, and my undying desire to survive. Yet I’m crude to a degree, simple, crafty and sometimes downright practical.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKflF5F44RI/AAAAAAAAA2g/yK-jEeAF63I/s1600/IMG_2750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKflF5F44RI/AAAAAAAAA2g/yK-jEeAF63I/s320/IMG_2750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523635357380829458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />I had a near-death experience in 1978 in Los Angeles. It was THE defining moment of my life and coincided with the end of the most intense love affair of my life. My heart stopped, my lungs filled up with fluid and I woke up many hours later with the producer of my play holding my hand. All I could think of was being there for the opening. And my lost love. Soon reality set in, and my life changed for the better or the worse, depending on which aspect of my life was being considered. Within six months I moved to New York City and have lived here ever since.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about the best day ever.</span><br />When peace has been declared.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKiDXcNJKJI/AAAAAAAAA2o/32HboGokjVA/s1600/IMG_2730.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKiDXcNJKJI/AAAAAAAAA2o/32HboGokjVA/s320/IMG_2730.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523809381701462162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is/are your hero(es)?</span><br />I don’t believe there is such a thing as a hero, per se. I think everyone has the potential to be a hero. But I do believe in angels.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Create a mandatory reading list for the world.</span><br />I’d like to amend this to a suggested reading list. I don’t want to mandate anything for the world—it could come back to bite me in the ass, and anyway I object to in on principle. LOL, as they say. So:<br />Collected Works of Antonin Artaud<br />Giovanni’s Room, If Beale Street Could Talk-James Baldwin<br />Nightwood-Djuna Barnes<br />Life of the Theatre-Julian Beck<br />Endgame, Krapp’s Last Tape, Rockabye, Waiting for Godot-Samuel Beckett<br />Hold Everything Dear, Ways of Seeing-John Berger<br />Good Woman of Szechuan, Mahagonny, Mother Courage-Bertolt Brecht<br />Nadja-Andre Breton<br />The Good Earth-Pearl Buck<br />The Plague-Albert Camus<br />Presence of the Actor-Joseph Chaikin<br />The Idiot-Fyodor Dostoyevsky<br />Four Quartets-T.S. Eliot<br />The Invisible Man-Ralph Ellison<br />Love in the Time of Cholera-Gabriel Garcia Marquez<br />The Yellow Wallpaper-Charlotte Perkins Gilman<br />Howl-Allen Ginsberg<br />Lord of the Flies-William Golding<br />Autobiography-Emma Goldman<br />Beneath the Wheel, Steppenwolf-Hermann Hesse<br />Brave New World, Doors of Perception, Island-Aldous Huxley<br />Ubu Roi-Alfred Jarry<br />The Other-Ryszard Kapuscinski<br />The Poisonwood Bible-Barbara Kingsolver<br />Mutual Aid-Petr Kropotkin<br />Immortality, The Joke-Milan Kundera<br />The Canopus in Argos Series-Doris Lessing<br />The Cancer Journals-Audre Lorde<br />The Prince-Machiavelli<br />Anarchy-Errico Malatesta<br />The Diaries of Judith Malina<br />Going to Iran, Sita-Kate Millett<br />The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea-Yukio Mishima<br />Invitation to a Beheading, Lolita-Vladimir Nabakov<br />Reading Lolita in Tehran-Azar Nafisi<br />Cantos-Pablo Neruda<br />Silences-Tillie Olsen<br />Collected Works of Kenneth Patchen<br />Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance-Robert Pirsig<br />The Symposium-Plato<br />All Quiet on the Western Front-Erich Maria Remarque<br />Diving Into the Wreck-Adrienne Rich<br />The God of Small Things-Arundhati Roy<br />The Satanic Verses-Salman Rushdie<br />Push-Sapphire<br />Existentialism and Human Emotion-Jean-Paul Sartre<br />The Country Without a Post Office-Ali Agha Shahid<br />Complete Works of Shakespeare<br />Frankenstein-Mary Shelley<br />A Tree Grows in Brooklyn-Betty Smith<br />The Grapes of Wrath-John Steinbeck<br />The Tibetan Book of the Dead<br />Seven Dada Manifestos-Tristan Tzara<br />Candide-Voltaire<br />Slaughterhouse Five, Timequake-Kurt Vonnegut<br />Marriage-A Sentence—Anne Waldman<br />Leaves of Grass-Walt Whitman<br />The Bridge of San Luis Rey-Thornton Wilder<br />Art and Lies, Lighthousekeeping, The Stone Gods-Jeanette Winterson<br />A Room of One’s Own, Orlando-Virginia Woolf<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcItESoI/AAAAAAAAA2A/bPXi8P0C8bA/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TKfhcItESoI/AAAAAAAAA2A/bPXi8P0C8bA/s320/IMG_2817.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523631341482297986" border="0" /></a><br />For more pictures of Joanie, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/10/03/Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-22158985010250463422010-09-17T06:26:00.001-07:002010-09-23T18:22:41.622-07:00KERRIE BOND<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqzhS4tIuI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/LG2pfippH_4/s1600/IMG_2461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519921677882696418" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqzhS4tIuI/AAAAAAAAA1Q/LG2pfippH_4/s320/IMG_2461.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family: arial;font-family:times new roman;" >This is Kerrie. We met in the land of undergraduate studies at Pace University. She is a brilliant musical theatre actress who reminds me of Alice Ripley and will probably play the lead in "Next to Normal" at some point. Kerrie has her act together (can't say that about most people, haha). I worked with her many times on shows in college and now we're thrilled to have her as part of the COTE Ensemble. She will be appearing in our upcoming radio play series. You can learn more about Kerrie on her website at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.kerriebond.com/">http://www.kerriebond.com/</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:times new roman;" > or follow her adventures in NYC at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.thegoodkerrie.blogspot.com/">http://www.thegoodkerrie.blogspot.com/</a><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:times new roman;" >.<br /><br /></span><div style="margin: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:times new roman;font-size:medium;" ><strong>1. Who Are You<br /></strong>Kerrie Bond by name. Actress/singer/thinker by trade. Oh, and blacksmith.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><br /><br />2. What do you believe in?</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-family:times new roman;font-size:medium;" ><br />I believe in the universe and it's power to give to you what you give to it. I believe in being open to what life has to bring - I believe, more than anything, in the total wonder of being an incomplete person. That way, there is always room to grow and learn. When one gap in yourself fills up, another is left open to find what it needs. I don't strive to be perfect, I only strive to keep striving. If that makes any sense at all!</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><br /><br />3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Maybe more than anything, I'd like to see people stepping up to the plate as individuals. It would be refreshing to see everyone really take an active role in their own lives and in the world around them - taking responsibility for the things they've done, the things they're going to do, and the things they want to gain. Knowing that while they are the star of their own lives, they need to act as supporting characters to those around them. (That might be the cheesiest thing I've ever said!) This requires a whole set of skills and qualities that I'm only just beginning to understand myself - empathy, understanding, openness, willing to step back for others and knowing when to step up for yourself, motivation, passion, the ability to accept what you're given and use it to your advantage, willingness to always be learning, courage, a sense of humor...</span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><br /><br />4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:medium;" ><br />Before my iPod busted, I used to have a playlist that I listened to anytime I stepped foot outside - it was a whole mix of contemporary musical theatre, Alanis Morisette, Adele, Lauren Kennedy, Chantal Kreviazuk, Loudon Wainwright III. My soundtrack would be composed of all those people, a ton of musical theatre (mostly Jason Robert Brown, Stephen Sondheim, Adam Guettel, Michael John LaChiusa...). And a lot of Green Day. Amanda Palmer. Oh, and The Killers. Maybe Evanescence, depending on my mood. And Jewel! I'm going to stop now.<br /><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519921691784327490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqziGrHMUI/AAAAAAAAA1o/hrRHe2GX_Cc/s320/IMG_2558.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />Acting/singing/performing/<wbr>creating a lot more than I am now. I would love to just be able to make a living off of that alone. Leave my day job, and focus on what I love. Me, my amazing, boyfriend, and our dog. And maybe 3 more dogs. Because I'd obviously have a bigger place in my perfect world. However, I know that I have to work to get all of these things. And with that knowledge, I'm really quite content where I am. Small apartment and all.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />6. I Can't Live Without...</span><br />Mike. My friends. .....my computer, with internet.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519921689064603938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqzh8irgSI/AAAAAAAAA1g/7p7pv-u3mmA/s320/IMG_2553.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><strong>7. What are you craving right now?</strong></span> </span><br /><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Honestly, at this exact moment in time? Pizza.<br /></span></span><br /><div style="margin: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>8. Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong><span style="font-size:medium;"><br />This is going to sound totally trite now that it has become a huge phenomenon in Broadwayland, but oh well - not even a month after I moved to New York City, my friend Kadey and I visited NYMF (the New York Musical Theatre Festival) to see a little show called </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">Feeling Electric</span></i><span style="font-size:medium;">. We bought tickets months in advance, after just having met at orientation. I refer to this piece of theatre as a kind of validation for me. I had just moved to this insanely scary city. And while it had always been my dream, I had no idea what I was doing. Apart from Kadey and few other orientation friends, I wasn't connecting with anyone in my musical theatre department, I missed my best friend, I hated my dorm and my roommate... and then I saw </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">Feeling Electric</span></i><span style="font-size:medium;"> and knew that I had done the right thing. Sitting in that tiny black box theatre witnessing this totally raw and moving piece of theatre, it couldn't have been more clear that this was where I was meant to be. </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">Feeling Electric</span></i><span style="font-size:medium;"> later turned into </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">Next to Normal, </span></i></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">and, well, the rest is history there. But I'll always see it as the show that changed my life, even if it only gave it direction. Its suc</span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">cess only validates me more.</span></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519921685784024050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqzhwUh0_I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/pOb1fRC4WUk/s320/IMG_2469.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />A lot of different things on different days. Sometimes it's the people who say I can't. Most of the time it's the people who say I can. It's the passion for what I love, the knowledge that there is something that I am good at, the incredible support system I've managed to build for myself. The desire to show people I'm more than what I appear. The desire to connect with the world in a totally inspiring and unique way.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />Harvey Milk. Or Margaret Sanger! Both inspired and changed the world around them.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><br />Well, this HAS to be </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">Friends</span></i></span>. If I could just be the 7th friend in their group, I could die happy. A nice mix between Monica and Phoebe. Neurotic like Monica, weird like Phoebe, and then a little of myself thrown in. Maybe I'd collaborate with Phoebe musically. Flesh out Smelly Cat a little. Maybe even write a sequel about a dog! The cat and dog could become friends. Oh, and all I'm saying is... Chandler wouldn't have married Monica. ;)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. Wh</span><img style="font-weight: bold;" class="gl_quote" alt="Blockquote" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" border="0" /><span style="font-weight: bold;">at happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />I feel like there have been so many in the journey so far - a lot of little things that change my life's direction, or my perception of things, or the way I approach situations. The biggest one I can think of was a little over 4 years ago when my grandpa died. I was my first experience with the death of someone close to me, and it shook up my whole world - only in ways I really didn't expect. It was then that I really adapted a mindset of the "journey" - of taking charge of things and being open to not being complete. Supporting those around me. Connecting with the people I love the most. I was a whole domino affect of realizations and new ideas about life. I was listening to a lot of Michael John LaChiusa's "Little Fish" that summer - "I never realized what we had to fight for and protect. The only way we live beyond our lives is to connect, and carve ourselves into the souls of those we love."<br /></div><div style="margin: 6px; padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; min-height: 1100px; padding-bottom: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><br /><strong>13.Talk about the best day ever.</strong><br />Spending the whole day with my boyfriend. Go somewhere unique and casual that serves </span><i><span style="font-size:medium;">really </span></i></span><span style="font-size:medium;">good food that magically has no calories or fat. Sunny day, but no humidity. See a show. Walk the dog. Meet up with friends. Nothing complicated. Just a simple day with things I love. And, okay, winning the lottery.<strong><br /><br />14. Who is/are your heroes?</strong><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />This is in no particular order: My amazing boyfriend for always being there. My best friend for being the smartest person I know. My dog. Bradley Whitford. Amanda Pal</span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">mer. My grandpa.</span></span><span style="font-size:medium;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519921695569594130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/TJqziUxlxxI/AAAAAAAAA1w/ddtfK-MQEl8/s320/IMG_2491.JPG" border="0" /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />For more photos of Kerrie, visit: </span><a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/09/22/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/09/22/</span></a><br /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:medium;"></span>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-53498559261475591922010-03-23T19:34:00.000-07:002010-04-02T10:04:49.772-07:00EMILY RUPP<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8dFEmNOI/AAAAAAAAAto/AR-2bP2HYIo/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+132.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8dFEmNOI/AAAAAAAAAto/AR-2bP2HYIo/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+132.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025662928205026" border="0" /></a>Here's Emily Rupp! She's a talented young singer, writer, actor and songwriter. Emily is a member of the Project Girl Performance Collective and also serves on our steering committee. She is a recent NYC transplant from Michigan. Enjoy the photos we took in Central Park on one of the first beautiful spring days in NYC!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Who Are You?</span><br />I'm a real life cartoon character who's on an adventure to find the pot of gold at the end of her rainbow. A lively, artistic, passionate, and powerful human being.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8bJVnmfI/AAAAAAAAAtI/8BbpprGo828/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8bJVnmfI/AAAAAAAAAtI/8BbpprGo828/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025629713603058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you believe in?</span><br />I believe in God, myself, and the people that are around me striving to create a positive image for the rest of the world to reciprocate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br />I want to see something positive. No matter how big or how small. Strive to do an act of random kindness everyday, sooner or later it'll snowball and something astounding will come from something small. I want people to pay attention, not just to listen or hear an opinion...but feel it. People need to listen more with their heart and not with their ears. I fit into this idea by standing out, we all stand out in different ways, no one would fit in if we were all the same. Humans need to share. We need to listen to each other and allow our minds to explore and feel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8cHCw5XI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/aeI57phuqyQ/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8cHCw5XI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/aeI57phuqyQ/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025646277518706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><br />My soundtrack would have everything from birds chirping over a trickling stream to techno bass beats and EVERYTHING in between.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</span><br />Touring the world with my mom leading motivational events that would include lunch, speeches, stories, and songs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l_M1M7OgI/AAAAAAAAAt4/suq577SfQM4/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+090.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l_M1M7OgI/AAAAAAAAAt4/suq577SfQM4/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+090.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452028682325146114" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I Can't Live Without...</span><br />My family &amp; .......my iPhone<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you craving right now?</span><br />I'm itching to grab my guitar and play it. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</span><br />When I was a sophomore in High School back in Michigan I was able to take a workshop with the Young Americans. They semi tricked people into auditioning, I was just hanging out singing in a room with some other people, but it was actually a test! When they were passing out random solos to people, they called my name down to do the biggest solo of the show. It was part of a mash up of "Eleanor Rigby" &amp; "Let it Be" by The Beatles. It had some melody and a lot of freestyling soul. It was my first time reaLly performing at a large venue (my middle school gymnasium) where there were light/sound techs and a microphone. After I finished singing that song, I knew that's what I'd be doing the rest of my life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />I do. Sure there are people around you to help but in the end you can only really count on yourself. My life and my mind are what motivates me. My past, my experiences, my thoughts, dreams, and creative ideas are what help me to strive to be the best ME there is out there.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l_MRbAonI/AAAAAAAAAtw/Qn4cPqqN7vU/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l_MRbAonI/AAAAAAAAAtw/Qn4cPqqN7vU/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452028672720544370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />I've recently watched Kirsten Dunst in the movie, Marie Anoinette. I think it'd be so fun to live a life of extravagance. She was a very curious and interesting human being, as am I, I think we'd get along.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />Lucielle Ball, I Love Lucy. My all time favorite TV show. My character would be a mix between Lucy's outrageous, over the top, kooky-ness &amp; Ethel's wiser, more level headed, mentor type. They would be the best triple threat to hit TV screens ever.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />Defining moment in my life. Wow, this is a toughie. The moment when I was sitting on the witness stand, having been a victim, and heard "no further questions, your honor" and was able to step down and feel the weight lifted off of my shoulders knowing that I had undergone the long, brutal, legal process and that I stood up for myself. This moment in my life was something that showed me that I did not completely lose myself, I just put up a lot of walls. Once I was past the process I was able to begin tearing down those walls and use my experience to find myself again and build myself back up to be the incredible woman that I am today.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about the best day ever.</span><br />My best day ever would include all of my closest friends, my family, my acquiantences, anyone that I've had a pleasant encounter with. This event would take place somwhere on a lake, preferable a Great Lake around Michigan. We'd cook, and bake, eat food, go dancing, make art, play music. We'd watch the sunset over the water and make a campfire and roast marshmallows until it was so dark only the fire could light our faces and we'd stare up at the stars and whisper stories until we fell asleep and could play in dreamland.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8c2bRZJI/AAAAAAAAAtg/ARUKXBhyRjU/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+140.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8c2bRZJI/AAAAAAAAAtg/ARUKXBhyRjU/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+140.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025658996778130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is/are your hero(es)?</span><br />My family. We all have our own superpowers, and combined we make one lean-mean-family-supporting-machine.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Create a mandatory reading list for the world:</span><br />The Bible<br />"An Alchemy of Mind" - By Diane Ackerman<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8cfGKt7I/AAAAAAAAAtY/MNeCINmkaaY/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S6l8cfGKt7I/AAAAAAAAAtY/MNeCINmkaaY/s400/emilysquaredandstuff+105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452025652734244786" border="0" /></a><br />For more pictures of Emily, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/04/02/Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-37666662075159802602010-02-26T06:53:00.000-08:002010-03-10T08:21:31.677-08:00EMILY TEMPLE<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e_jXs5SWI/AAAAAAAAAq4/hczPMNAtZKQ/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+072.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e_jXs5SWI/AAAAAAAAAq4/hczPMNAtZKQ/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447032888706550114" border="0" /></a><span>I met Emily when she was a freshman at Pace University (and I was a senior). We were in The Trojan Women together. Now Emily is a senior and I'm, well, getting old... haha. Time flies. Emily is multi talented - an actor, costumer and academic. I loved hearing her aspirations beyond graduation from Pace University this spring. She has great plans and a great vision!<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />1. Who Are You?</span><br />Emily Temple, a 21 year old senior BFA acting major, Women’s and Gender Studies minor at Pace University.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. What do you believe in?</span><br />God; true equality and acceptance of all people no matter what background they come from, what color their skin is, or what their sexual orientation is; instant gratification takes too long; and sometimes there is nothing like a good book or a good movie to make a horrible day better.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br />I would love to see people begin to take a more active and educated role in government instead of blindly following what the media tells them is right, as well as a move away from discrimination that stems from race, sexual orientation, or religious background. Coming from a small town in the south I know how damaging this kind of blind ignorance can be, and I have done my best and will continue to strive to open people’s eyes to the fact that we aren’t really all that different when you get down to it, every person deserves to be loved for who they are and what they believe regardless of what that is.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-bWRWrII/AAAAAAAAAqg/HrVhHBrADSY/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-bWRWrII/AAAAAAAAAqg/HrVhHBrADSY/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447031651372018818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><br />More Beautiful You-Jonny Diaz, Rhapsody in Blue, Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra (yes I’m old school), Boondocks-Little Big Town, Breathe-Anna Nalick, and Love Song-Sara Bareilles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</span><br />Working on Broadway as an actress or a costumer or back in India teaching in orphanages and doing street theater.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. I Can't Live Without...</span><br />Music, old Julie Andrews’ movies, chocolate, and my friends and family.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e_FcISfPI/AAAAAAAAAqw/P8Aofny0PRw/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e_FcISfPI/AAAAAAAAAqw/P8Aofny0PRw/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447032374499114226" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. What are you craving right now?</span><br />A chance to move beyond Pace and work professionally in the arts that I love so much, and some good old fashioned southern cooking.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</span><br />The first time I read The Miracle Worker by William Gibson I realized just how impactful theatre can really be; as actors we take real people and real stories and make them accessible to an audience in a way that they may not have previously been able to experience. At the time I was babysitting a little girl who had been born with half a heart and had delayed motor skills due to damage from extensive surgeries she’d had, and who’d been told she would never speak. I began teaching her sign language (much like Anne Sullivan teaches Helen in The Miracle Worker) as a way to teach her to communicate, and within four months she was speaking, my name was the fifth word she learned to say. Several years later I was fortunate enough to play Anne Sullivan in a production of the show with the Virginia Courthouse Players, and I can truly say that show and that little girl changed the path my life has taken.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />“To whom much is given much is expected” I have been very blessed in my life and I feel it’s my responsibility to not take those blessings for granted, but to instead make an effort to make someone else’s life better.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />It’s impossible to pick just one so I have a few:<br />Anne Sullivan because she was a brilliant teacher, thinker, and woman and I’m so in awe of the work she did, Mother Teresa because of the incredible work she did in India, specifically with the Dalit caste that I hold so dear to my heart because of the limited work I got to do with them when I was 17, and finally Emily Dickinson because there is just something so fascinating and mysterious about her that I think it would be interesting to be one of the few confidants she had in her life.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />As cliché as this is, I’d want to be in The Sound of Music (the film not the play), maybe as one of Maria’s friends, just some excuse to be in a movie singing with Julie Andrews and running around the hills in Austria. There’s just something really happy about that movie (even though the ending is a bit of a downer) that would be fun to be a part of.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-bJb-7SI/AAAAAAAAAqY/Oz1dvewUvfY/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-bJb-7SI/AAAAAAAAAqY/Oz1dvewUvfY/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447031647926938914" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />I recently found out that I have a life threatening heart condition that is pretty much nonexistent in people my age, and this revelation made me look at my life in a whole new way. I could have found out about this condition much sooner and been able to prevent it from worsening to the level it has by altering the way I lived my life, but then I would have missed out on so much of my life that has made me who I am. I never would have been able to play sports as a kid, go swimming in the river and water skiing with friends after school, I wouldn’t have been able to spend the summer before my senior year of high school in India working with orphans and lepers (an experience which truly changed my life), and I never would have been able to move to New York and become the woman I am today. I have a greater understanding of the importance of life because of the way I have lived it thus far and now because I know my life may be shorter than that of the average person, and I’m incredibly grateful I didn’t find out about it until now because it allowed me to have a well rounded childhood and early adulthood, and it gives me something to fight for now that I know I have to fight.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-aS7eBEI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/SJJ01vqYqWc/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-aS7eBEI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/SJJ01vqYqWc/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447031633295049794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">13.Talk about the best day ever.</span><br />Sleeping in, having breakfast with my family, going for a walk by the river, spending the afternoon reading and hanging out with friends, going out for a relaxed dinner with my closest friends and family and seeing a show or watching a movie-just a simple relaxing day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Who is/are your hero(es)?</span><br />My mother<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. Create a mandatory reading list for the world:</span><br />The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho<br />To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee<br />Persuasion by Jane Austen<br />The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini<br />Because of Romek by David Farber<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-Z37ylQI/AAAAAAAAAqI/_mgDgNMwh8k/s1600-h/emilysquaredandstuff+082.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S5e-Z37ylQI/AAAAAAAAAqI/_mgDgNMwh8k/s320/emilysquaredandstuff+082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447031626048640258" border="0" /></a><br />For more pictures of Emily, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/03/10/Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-22504874074343262182010-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:002010-02-12T11:13:53.795-08:00ROBERT GONYO<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSK0xRcoI/AAAAAAAAAn4/yY7QUH89hTY/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSK0xRcoI/AAAAAAAAAn4/yY7QUH89hTY/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412839781397122" border="0" /></a><br />It's my pleasure to introduce one of my favorite people in the world (and partner in crime), Robert Gonyo. He is the co-founder/artistic director of Co-Op Theatre East (www.cooptheatreeast.org), a brilliant musician, writer, director and actor. Most importantly, Robby is probably one of the kindest and genuine person you'll ever meet. He holds his Master's from NYU-Tisch in Performance Studies and undergraduate degrees in theatre and political science. It was a well known fact in graduate school (and still stands today) that Robert makes the BEST blueberry muffins you'll ever have (from scratch). If you're lucky enough to get hold of one of these muffins or any of his Caribbean cooking, you'll be very satisfied. You can check out some of his acting work in COTE's next show, "Decadent Acts". Additionally, you can find out more about Robby by visiting www.robertgonyo.com.<br /><br /><strong>Who are you?</strong><br />A theatre artist &amp; musician currently living in Brooklyn, NY.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What do you believe in?</span><br />Democracy and art. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />What kind of change do you want to see?</span><br />Engagement with the political process by every citizen of every nation everywhere. A more rigorous, challenging, interesting, and fair public education system. Less screens/more scenes. Less arts bureaucracy, more art.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSMT0XnBI/AAAAAAAAAoY/sHGCG2APoEE/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSMT0XnBI/AAAAAAAAAoY/sHGCG2APoEE/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412865295752210" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you could be doing anything with your life right now, what would it be?</span><br />I'd almost like to be able to skip a few steps of the journey on my way to being a respected director, actor, and songwriter, but I think I've finally learned that there's no way to be where I want to be without the slog I'm in now. This slog, however, is so much better than other slogs I've been through...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSL9tyT7I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/moufGQish0Y/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSL9tyT7I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/moufGQish0Y/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412859362561970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I can't live without...</span><br />Good theatre, good music, my best friends, black licorice, delicious congrís, my cat Compay, and a little Havana Club now and again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are you craving right now?</span><br />A new play to direct. Something in the lineage of great American playwrights like Miller, Albee and Mamet, but which is completely original. I don't claim to be of that ilk, but I might just try to write one of my own.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSLq69aiI/AAAAAAAAAoI/OPunEzhv8Cs/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+062.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WSLq69aiI/AAAAAAAAAoI/OPunEzhv8Cs/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+062.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437412854317541922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life.</span><br />Seeing the Classical Theatre of Harlem's 2006 production of Waiting for Godot. It was then that I realized that theatre could actually make things happen outside of the theater's walls, because that production actually made me go to St. Bernard Parish in Louisiana for 10 days to volunteer with post-Katrina clean-up efforts.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />A feeling that I should be doing more. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WUFQm5ldI/AAAAAAAAAog/bSOTF9kKXLI/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WUFQm5ldI/AAAAAAAAAog/bSOTF9kKXLI/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437414943198123474" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />If you were best friends with any historical figure,<br />who would it be and why?</span><br />St. Francis of Assisi. I bet he was a blast to hang with, even (or especially) after his partying days. No matter what you think of his association with the church, he was the ultimate environmentalist, peace-monger, and wise-man (after Jesus, I suppose), and on top of it all, the cat was just down.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WoM6H7ihI/AAAAAAAAApA/VjNAxix6JjM/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WoM6H7ihI/AAAAAAAAApA/VjNAxix6JjM/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437437064834157074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline, who would it be? how would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />I've always heavily identified with Vladimir from Waiting for Godot. I even wrote a song about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />I don't know that I could pick any particular moment; that's just not how my memory works. For me, something will happen in the present, and I'll remember something really important from my past because of it. I often worry that I don't remember anything; but then a moment like this will come along, and a particular memory will rise. I think I'm the accumulation of a lot of experiences, but I'm not sure I could identify the major ones.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WUF1g6D4I/AAAAAAAAAoo/05I1GqoCMew/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 176px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WUF1g6D4I/AAAAAAAAAoo/05I1GqoCMew/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437414953105100674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talk about the best day ever.</span><br />Greasy diner breakfast somewhere in Clinton County before kicking out some jams with friends in Brooklyn, 'una de cebolla' from Pizza Celina in Havana for lunch, a wander through Balboa Park in San Diego with friends, a late afternoon rehearsal of T.O. techniques with both old hands and folks who've never tried it before, dinner with friends of pork, rice &amp; beans that I've cooked, catch a new play before it's back to Cuba for a mojito or three in Havana Vieja with friends, then a stroll by the Seine with Nicole.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who is your hero?</span><br />Batman.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Create a require reading list for the world:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Theatre of the Oppressed </span>by Augusto Boal<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Art of War</span> by Sun Tzu<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for Godot</span> by Samuel Beckett<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Good Woman of Setzuan</span> by Bertolt Brecht<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Everything in print</span> by J. D. Salinger<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Slaughter-House Five</span> by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Hamle</span>t by William Shakespeare<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Watchmen</span> by Alan Moore &amp; Dave Gibbons<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WoMcZNQsI/AAAAAAAAAo4/4J-v3r2Hn-0/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WoMcZNQsI/AAAAAAAAAo4/4J-v3r2Hn-0/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437437056853557954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WWMB6i1MI/AAAAAAAAAow/df7cmOlNFxc/s1600-h/RobbyCOTEandSledding+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S3WWMB6i1MI/AAAAAAAAAow/df7cmOlNFxc/s320/RobbyCOTEandSledding+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437417258536326338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Robby's Cat </span><br /></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For more pictures of Robby visit: </span>http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/02/07/people-who-want-change-robert-ak-gonyo.htmlAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-22980435093681633422010-01-18T21:15:00.000-08:002010-01-19T14:24:14.135-08:00REGINA GENNARI<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDw-OOsPI/AAAAAAAAAm8/mCbVB1FiQJs/s1600-h/ReginandStatenIsland+034.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDw-OOsPI/AAAAAAAAAm8/mCbVB1FiQJs/s320/ReginandStatenIsland+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428319434480464114" border="0" /></a>A proper introduction of Regina would take its own blog. Here is a girl who is all action. Regina is a 1L (first year Law Student) at Cardozo (Yeshiva University) in New York City. In addition to her academic achievements (highest GPA in her undergraduate class at Pace University, Recipient of Pace's Board of Trustees Award in addition to numerous other department honors) she is a humanitarian. Having traveled extensively throughout South Asia, Africa and Central America, Regina is committed to working towards peace, justice and equality for all. Look for her on the Supreme Court in 30 years!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Who Are You?</span><br />I'm <span class="il">Regina</span> Gennari, a 23 year old law student from New York.<br /><br /><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">2. What do you believe in?</span><br /></div>Social change, equality and the importance of positive thinking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxeVy9LI/AAAAAAAAAnE/pc2FMw48avE/s1600-h/ReginandStatenIsland+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxeVy9LI/AAAAAAAAAnE/pc2FMw48avE/s320/ReginandStatenIsland+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428319443102135474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">3. What kind of change do you want to see? </span><br /></div>I want to see widespread, sustainable change in all sectors, so its hard to pinpoint a specific area. I'm working towards a law degree so I can work on international human rights issues, specifically those affecting women and children in developing countries.<br /><br /><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">4. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</span><br />Exactly what I'm doing right now. I'm satisfied with where I am and where I'm going.<br /><br /><br /></div><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">5. What are you craving right now?</span><br /></div>I'm sitting in a Belgian airport, after a two week study abroad trip through Rwanda and Tanzania. Right now, I'm craving New York and a hot shower.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDwvQDgOI/AAAAAAAAAm0/_F58bVIK4NY/s1600-h/ReginandStatenIsland+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDwvQDgOI/AAAAAAAAAm0/_F58bVIK4NY/s320/ReginandStatenIsland+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428319430461587682" border="0" /></a><br /><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life.</span><br />Harper Lee's <span style="font-style: italic;">To Kill a Mockingbird </span>inspired me to pursue law. Don't we all want to be Atticus Finch one day<span style="font-weight: bold;">?<br /><br /></span></div><div class="im"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">7. What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />My faith and belief in a better world.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxmUcjDI/AAAAAAAAAnM/_DDHqm8ePRo/s1600-h/ReginandStatenIsland+043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxmUcjDI/AAAAAAAAAnM/_DDHqm8ePRo/s320/ReginandStatenIsland+043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428319445243956274" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="im"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</span><br />I worked at the Palm Tree Orphanage in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2008. My life has not been the same since then. My experience changed my perspective on the world and I realized how privileged I was, simply by being born in the US. Deeply affected by the poverty and corruption overtaking Cambodia, I was inspired to work on issues pertaining to developing countries.<br /></div><div class="im"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Create a required reading list for the world:</span><br /></div>To Kill a Mockingbird, A Problem From Hell by Samantha Power and the New York Times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxyqBLsI/AAAAAAAAAnU/egp8geMUmJI/s1600-h/ReginandStatenIsland+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S1VDxyqBLsI/AAAAAAAAAnU/egp8geMUmJI/s320/ReginandStatenIsland+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428319448555663042" border="0" /></a><br />For more pictures of Regina, check out: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/01/18/Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-43504452718054463122010-01-12T12:51:00.001-08:002010-01-12T21:15:58.186-08:00MARIAH MacCARTHY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrsfhLdgI/AAAAAAAAAms/oIzdRi9R3xU/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+093.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrsfhLdgI/AAAAAAAAAms/oIzdRi9R3xU/s320/MariahMacCarthy+093.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425970800682038786" border="0" /></a>There's really no need for me to introduce Mariah, because (as you will see by her answers) she speaks for herself. She is a NY based playwright and activist, working hard to end violence against women and for gender equality. Mariah is a force that will soon take the NYC theatre scene by storm (she's already started!). Remember her name because she'll be among the next Eve Enslers and Sarah Ruhls. When you're done here, check out her blog at www.nicefeminist.blogspot.com. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />1.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Who Are You?</span><br />Well, the intro to my blog describes me as "just your average uppity, moderate-liberal, occasionally androgynous, pansexual, vaguely Christian, feminist, humanist, sensualist, gender activist/ playwright/ lover of human beings." So that's a good place to start. I suppose I write "feminist" plays, but I try to approach feminism as a broader thing than just "hey stop oppressing us please." "Optimist" should probably be in there too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 2. What do you believe in?</span><br />I believe in listening. I believe in laughing at ourselves and at tragedy. I believe in some higher something or other, and I believe that this higher something is neither male nor female (or both), and that it has a sense of humor. I believe that every feeling you create, good or bad, comes back to you at the end of your life. I believe that a little androgyny is good for the soul. I believe that art can and does change the world, but not often enough. I believe in gratitude. I believe in forgiveness. I believe in paying it forward.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</span><br />I want America to have a healthier relationship to gender. Not that America is unique in its unhealthiness in that regard, but it's a great place to start, since we pride ourselves on being the Greatest Place On Earth. I hope that by the time I'm a grandma, it will seem absurd that gay marriage was ever illegal; that in 2009 there had never been a female president; and that sexual and domestic violence statistics were as bad as they are today. I hope people become more open to the idea that gender is fluid; I hope idiotic gender stereotypes in sitcoms and romantic comedies and commercials become passe (not only are they frequently boring and unfunny, but they also become self-fulfilling prophecies). And I hope that we can let go of the notion that only psychos and supervillains ever commit rape, come to a clearer understanding as a culture of what rape is, and, ultimately, eliminate it.<br /><br />So that's a lot of grandiose stuff to hope for, and on one level it seems kind of silly that I'm pursuing these ends by writing plays - hardly a means of reaching the masses anymore. But I don't appear to have much choice in the matter. Whether it's a lesbian riff on Romeo and Juliet (Ampersand: A Romeo &amp; Juliet Story), a deconstruction of gender stereotypes (The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret, coming up at Under St. Mark's in March 2010!), or a neo-noir play about a man who'll do anything for the woman he loves (A Man of His Word), I kind of can't help writing plays about sex-'n'-gender politics. But, it does no good to paint these issues as black and white, or to pretend that people who do terrible things aren't people. If we don't ask why, if we only vilify and refuse to probe, nothing will change. I want to provoke and unravel, not preach.<br /><br />I'm also of the opinion that the world needs as much joy as possible, so my plays are often full of things that make me happy. So there's often a party scene, and dancing, and lots of making out. And I think my plays get funnier as time goes on, or at least goofier. I believe in more carrots than sticks- if you lure people in with funny or sexy, you can sneak your message on 'em.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqWbatmBI/AAAAAAAAAmE/cNEFjeJjc1U/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqWbatmBI/AAAAAAAAAmE/cNEFjeJjc1U/s320/MariahMacCarthy+097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425969322112423954" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</span><br />Nina Simone. Amanda Palmer. Some badass-sounding stuff from the Matrix soundtracks, to make me feel cool when I'm just walking around. Pink Floyd. Some crazy cello tracks by Apocalyptica or the Vitamin String Quartet. Imogen Heap would probably score the love scenes. Murder By Death. It would be an extensive soundtrack. I think most things should happen to music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</span><br />I'd be getting paid to write plays that reach lots of people and change people's perceptions about themselves, and have the means to pay my favorite artists what they're worth to collaborate with me. And right at this moment someone would be feeding me grapes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrsJpVZUI/AAAAAAAAAmk/vGo-mf36FUQ/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrsJpVZUI/AAAAAAAAAmk/vGo-mf36FUQ/s320/MariahMacCarthy+040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425970794810664258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. I Can't Live Without...</span><br />Music, hugs, or the Internet. Oddly enough I could probably live without theater for a while and be OK. I go months without movies, or books, but I need music.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. What are you craving right now?</span><br />A Depeche Mode song, "Wrong," and sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</span><br />Pink Floyd's The Wall infiltrated my head and my life somewhere around my sophomore year of high school, in all its epic glory. I love that album for so many reasons, but a few of them are: it allows you to fill in some blanks yourself; it ends ambiguously, putting the power in the hands of the listener to decide what happens; and it doesn't take itself too-too seriously. And it rocks out like whoa. There's probably nothing I've written since that hasn't been subconsciously or consciously influenced by The Wall.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. What motivates you to do what you do?</span><br />As a theater artist, if you haven't seen anything great in awhile, it's easy to forget why you're doing what you're doing, but then you see a totally transcendent play and remember, oh! That! I'm supposed to do that! That happens maybe 5-10 times in a year (if you're a persistent theatergoer), but those 5-10 times are worth the mediocrity of everything else you saw that year. As an activist, I have to admit, I get burnout sometimes and I don't want to read any articles about which group of women in the world is getting raped or tortured today. But eventually, I just have to keep doing what I do because my apathy-guilt will consume me otherwise. Plus, some dude will most likely catcall me at some point and get me angry enough to start activist-ing again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrruXvfrI/AAAAAAAAAmc/bIh22BJqJHw/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zrruXvfrI/AAAAAAAAAmc/bIh22BJqJHw/s320/MariahMacCarthy+113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425970787489119922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</span><br />Probably Lord Byron. He was a troublemaker.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</span><br />I want to be in a Lady Gaga music video. I'd be an alter-ego of Ms. Gaga, in some kind of chainmail tutu and 2-feet-wide sunglasses, maybe killing somebody or eating strawberries.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it? </span><br />When I was in The Vagina Monologues, we watched a documentary about how music videos contribute to a rape culture, and it contained a very graphic rape scene from a movie whose name escapes me now. I wasn't a rape survivor at the time, but had to leave the room crying. The girl who followed me out tried to calm me down, explaining that she knew that sometimes memories were triggered by this documentary. When I tried to explain that no memory had been triggered, that it hadn't actually happened to me, she seemed to lose concern. This confused me, even though I couldn't put it into words then. Why did the fact that I didn't have a directly correlating life experience make my response less significant? I didn't realize at the time that it would be a defining moment, but since then I've been more acutely aware of the occasional hypocrisy of compassion - how we pick and choose who is most worthy of our concern, and lose interest if people's experiences haven't been awful enough for our standards. And I try not to do that.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqXWYSWlI/AAAAAAAAAmU/zvHN4IbTSFo/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqXWYSWlI/AAAAAAAAAmU/zvHN4IbTSFo/s320/MariahMacCarthy+050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425969337939941970" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">13.Talk about the best day ever.</span><br />Last year, my mother secretly flew me and all my siblings home for my Dad's 70th birthday, and we all surprised him at a ballgame. When he saw us, he screamed every old-guy-non-obscenity in the book (i.e. "holy jumping catfish"). It was the cutest thing ever. We spent the whole weekend eating, drinking, and going to the beach. I wish Dad would turn 70 every year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">14. Who is/are your hero?</span><br />The first person who comes to mind is Amanda Palmer. She's not a balls-to-the-wall activist, but she's all about creating community, and setting up environments where people can connect with each other (and with her) and spread as much love and joy as possible. I also have to give it up for Joan of Arc - former farmgirl leading an army at age 17 = badass. And Lenelle Moise is the kind of do-it-all goddess I'd give anything to emulate; everything she creates just glows. She's got the Midas touch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">15. Create a mandatory reading list for the world:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Gendered Society by Michael Kimmel </span>- an incredibly smart yet fun approach to gender roles, by a straight white dude.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The entirety of Neil Gaiman's Sandman comics series</span> - some of the finest, most imaginative storytelling I've ever encountered, with a scope that encompasses basically EVERYTHING. Really. Everything.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Middlesex</span> by Jeffrey Eugenides - a gender-bending, uber-American (in the way that immigrant stories are the most American stories of all), gorgeously written epic.<br />Repeat 7 Times (or anything) by Lenelle Moise. Read her poems out loud to yourself. You'll feel loved.<br />The completed plays of Sarah Kane, which you should also see whenever you get the chance (but bring a friend - you'll need a hug)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Fight Club</span>, because even if you don't like it, this book and movie defined a generation (for worse, I think)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That Pretty Pretty</span>, or, The Rape Play by Sheila Callaghan, if you missed it at Rattlestick. Some of the most cruelly hilarious, inventive skewering of sex politics I've ever seen.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Vagina Monologues</span>, if somehow you've managed to avoid seeing or reading it thus far.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Angels in America</span> (see above).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqWxv1qKI/AAAAAAAAAmM/txEFvcvsfqY/s1600-h/MariahMacCarthy+079.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/S0zqWxv1qKI/AAAAAAAAAmM/txEFvcvsfqY/s320/MariahMacCarthy+079.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425969328106612898" border="0" /></a><br />For more pictures of Mariah, visit: http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2010/01/12/people-who-want-change-mariah.htmlAshleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-28737276316577365152009-12-19T14:19:00.000-08:002012-01-12T08:47:43.581-08:00ANDREA<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1SoG9WagI/AAAAAAAAAlM/vlQnX_dhpoE/s1600-h/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417076775812753922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1SoG9WagI/AAAAAAAAAlM/vlQnX_dhpoE/s320/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+050.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />I met Andrea at an audition for <em>Co-Op Theatre East</em> a few years ago. We've been working on projects together since and I'm happy that she was willing to be part of this one. She is a regular in GirlPower (as both a performer and director) and is now a sophomore at Pace University where she's studying theatre. Andrea has a very bright future ahead of her. I look forward to seeing where life takes her.<br /><br /><div> <strong>Who Are You?</strong> <div><div><div>Andrea , 19 years old, college sophomore, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, listener and observer.</div><div><br /><strong>What do you believe in?</strong></div><div>I believe in individuality, respect for each being and appreciation towards each other and the world we live in.</div><div><br /><strong>What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</strong></div><div>I would like to see more human politeness and understanding of the differences of others. I would like my niece to not grow up being concerned about being herself and worrying if she will be accepted for her looks, interests or otherwise. I see myself taking my ideas one step at a time, right now I am at a standstill. I am observing, listening, recording and testing the people that surround me everyday, taking whole heartedly into consideration the things people say and do.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417076745837447698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1SmXSrihI/AAAAAAAAAks/cpUdww_h0vY/s320/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+002.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /><strong>If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</strong></div><div>I don't have any specific artist in mind but definitely just tones and instruments mixed together forming funky rhythms, sounds, and beats.</div><div><br /><strong>If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</strong></div><div>Attending school or traveling somewhere I have never been and learning from it.<br /></div><div><strong>I Can't Live Without...</strong></div><div>Honestly, peanut butter and the internet.</div><div><br /><strong>What are you craving right now?</strong></div><div>Now that I mentioned peanut butter what do you think?</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417076756287481058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1Sm-OKZOI/AAAAAAAAAk0/5nQjSVS0S84/s320/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+059.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /><strong>Talk about a piece of art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong></div><div>I am currently reading a novel called, <em>Let the Great World Spin</em> by Colum McCann and I am not even half way through it and within the first 20 pages I had to stop and call my parents to thank them for the life they have given me.</div><div><br /><strong>What motivates you to do what you do?</strong></div><div>When I am inspired by something I have seen, read or been apart of. I want to give someone else that feeling and help them notice or see something they didn't know before.</div><div><br /><strong>If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</strong></div><div>I recently watched the film Milk and I was blown away by the confidence, certainty, bravery and beauty of Mr. Harvey Milk. I would want to be his best friend and stand up for something important.</div><div><br /><strong>If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</strong></div><div>This is a bit of a silly answer, but I would like to be in the movie Mean Girls(2004). I would like to be the sarcastic, dry and Janeane Garofalo-esk character. I would like to be intertwined with the story line as the voice of reason always telling the obnoxious characters how it is.</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417076758225767922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1SnFcSTfI/AAAAAAAAAk8/OzVEFL0noG0/s320/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+068.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div><div><strong>Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</strong></div><div>A defining moment for me was this past summer when I got to show my parents some of the work I have done and things I have learned. "EMERGENYC" at The Hemispheric Institute @ NYU introduced me to a whole new world I had never known. I got to spend a month out my summer vacation learning, creating and bonding with 20 other artists who are just as passionate as I. When we had our end of the program presentation I got to express my feelings and experience through a spoken word piece I had developed throughout the process. It meant a lot to have my parents be there and to finally share with others the work I had done.</div><div><br /><strong>Talk about the best day ever.</strong></div><div>I do not have a specific day in mind, but I do know that when I am having a great day it is because I have accomplished something, begun something, learned something or interacted with someone. When I can go to sleep feeling like I have put myself to use, that is the best day ever.</div><div><br /><strong>Who is/are your hero(es)?</strong></div><div>I am in the process of studying and learning not only academically but about myself. I cannot say who my heroes are because I find it difficult to clarify who I am and what I stand for. I do know what I feel in my heart and that I am often inspired by many people, specifically Anna Deavere Smith. I read two of her books over the summer and she makes me feel that I am right in expressing myself in the way that I do and that it is worth something.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417076770648076290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sy1Snzt_sAI/AAAAAAAAAlE/zO8tg1XYDXg/s320/AndreanadGirlPowerUN+046.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div>See more of Andrea: <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/19/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/19/</a></div></div></div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-19636200902154924252009-12-10T14:57:00.000-08:002009-12-11T19:57:01.871-08:00ZACHARY CRUZ<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOijlJZ3I/AAAAAAAAAik/AOOW3xAmM3s/s1600-h/JENandZACK+119.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413764951393789810" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOijlJZ3I/AAAAAAAAAik/AOOW3xAmM3s/s320/JENandZACK+119.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>What can I tell you about Zach? He is a fantastic teacher, beautiful dancer and most importantly, a great friend. Very few people are as loyal and genuine as he. Zach has become one of my favorite people to photograph (you'll see why below). Last year, we did a shoot where we went throughout Williamsburg in the 20 degree weather (you would never know) </div><div>Links from last year's photos: <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/17/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/17/</a> and <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/18/zach-cont.html">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/02/18/zach-cont.html</a> . During our last shoot, Zach brought along his girl Marissa, who you'll see below and a few of his other dancer friends. In a few weeks we'll be doing a dancer photo shoot at the theater that Marissa works at. I hope you enjoy the time we spent together and can guarantee that there will be many more Zach photos.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><strong></strong></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyMSxSVFLKI/AAAAAAAAAjM/AKopwG0xgyk/s1600-h/JENandZACK+157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyMSxSVFLKI/AAAAAAAAAjM/AKopwG0xgyk/s320/JENandZACK+157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414191814972615842" border="0" /></a><div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who Are You? </span><br />A city slicking Newyorican from the lower east side Manhattan. </div><br /><div><strong>What do you believe in? </strong></div><div>That a man creates his own destiny.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</strong> </div><div>Making a positive influence in a young persons life in creating new future.</div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413764974247976578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOj4uAnoI/AAAAAAAAAi8/8tiURYFozwk/s320/JENandZACK+153.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</strong></div><div>‘Wouldn’t change a thing’ by Coke Escobedo.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?</strong></div><div>What I’m doing right now or traveling around the world with my skate board in my hand.</div><br /><div><strong>I Can't Live Without...</strong> </div><div>NYC pizza!</div><br /><div><strong>What are you craving right now?</strong> </div><div>The waves in Hawaii under my surf board.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413764966223595618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOja02SGI/AAAAAAAAAi0/lehzP4oLHkI/s320/JENandZACK+143.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div></div><div><strong>Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong></div><div>George Balanchine’s “Prodigal son ballet”</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413764959835471586" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOjDBzPuI/AAAAAAAAAis/3F_dvGa7kS4/s320/JENandZACK+131.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><strong>What motivates you to do what you do?</strong> </div><div>The NYC under ground dance scene, my students that come back all grown up, my friend, family and mentors that all inspire me.</div><br /><div><strong>If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</strong></div><div>If I could, I would befriend the Zulu nation. The Universal Zulu Nation is an international hip hop awareness group formed and headed by hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa.[1]:101 Originally known simply as the Organization, it arose in the 1970s as reformed New York City gang members began to organize cultural events for youths, combining local dance and music movements into what would become known as the various elements of hip hop culture. By the 1980s, hip hop had spread globally, and the Zulu Nation has since established (autonomous) branches in Japan, France, the UK, Australia, Poland and South Korea.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?</strong></div><div>“Peter pan” young spirited and always searching for a new adventure.</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you Take away from it?</strong> </div><div>Mom getting sick and having to dance to support are family...</div><br /><br /><div><strong>Talk about the best day ever.</strong></div><div>9am community service with the kids at coy &amp; girls club of Santa Barbra. 11am surfing at the point, 1pm having $! Beers And $2 tacos with the drummer of the butt whole surfers, 2pm skate to the beach, 5pm clime a mountain, 6pm skinny dip, 6:30 chill with a sea lion,11pm last call at the bar while dancing with some random women.12:30am past the fu#k out.. (True story)</div><br /><div><strong>Who is/are your hero(es)?</strong> </div><div>People who make a positive influence without sweating it.<br /><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413764977955452242" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyGOkGh8NVI/AAAAAAAAAjE/7-2fg6LO5lk/s320/JENandZACK+135.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For more pictures of Zach (and Marissa) check out:</span> http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/10/people-who-want-change-zachary-cruz.html<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyMSx0r0OSI/AAAAAAAAAjU/lJ-ztiKBLKc/s1600-h/JENandZACK+165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyMSx0r0OSI/AAAAAAAAAjU/lJ-ztiKBLKc/s320/JENandZACK+165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414191824194779426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SyMSxSVFLKI/AAAAAAAAAjM/AKopwG0xgyk/s1600-h/JENandZACK+157.JPG"></a><div></div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-68817094143837448082009-12-03T20:29:00.000-08:002009-12-06T20:47:19.025-08:00JENNIFER GARVEY<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxxzjYTvrUI/AAAAAAAAAiE/o-682prqqDU/s1600-h/JENandZACK+083.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412327903850376514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxxzjYTvrUI/AAAAAAAAAiE/o-682prqqDU/s320/JENandZACK+083.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong></strong><br />I first met Jennifer Garvey in undergrad at Pace University and she immediately made a strong impression on me for many reasons. She is one of a kind who is not afraid to speak her mind (hah! that rhymes...) This girl oozes passion for feminism and social change. As a women's studies and sociology/anthropology double major, she certainly made the most of her time at Pace and now she applies those skills to her work outside of the academy. When I found out that Jenn was interested in being part of this project I was excited because I'd get to engage with her in the fifteen questions below. I know you'll find her as fascinating and inspiring as I do.<br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Who Are You?<br /></strong>Jennifer Garvey, Dog lover, Feminist Activist, 22 year old college graduate student living in Brooklyn with no money.<br /><br /><strong>What do you believe in?<br /></strong>Equality.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412327908878740834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxxzjrCmbWI/AAAAAAAAAiM/PorRkodL9-o/s320/JENandZACK+005.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</strong><br />I want to see lots of change, but the change I am most passionate about is to achieve equality between women and men. I hope to help achieve this by supporting and taking part in early education for children. We need to stop gendering children at a young age. We need to teach boys and girls to treat one another with respect. To go further, I want to change college rape culture. I have worked hard to help my college, Pace University, adopt a better sexual assault policy, but I feel activists need to go into colleges across the nation to educate students how to fight against sexual assualt. To go back to early education, I feel that we need to teach young boys not to sexually harass, assault, or rape women. I feel that many times adults don't just say, "don't rape women," so there is this blurry line of what is acceptable and that line needs to be clarified for adolescents so that we can lower (and hopefully stop) the occurences of rape and sexual assault.<br /><div><div><br /></div><div><strong>If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?<br /></strong>Billie Holiday, Neko Case, Langhorne Slim, Pablo Casals, Sufjan Stevens, Tenacious D, Bon Iver, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, and Rufus Wainwright.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?<br /></strong>I would love to be going to graduate school for a master's in Women's Studies (I will be in fall 2010!), as well as own and run an animal rescue. Feminism is my passion, but my heart goes out to all the homeless, unwanted, and battered animals across the country. I foster animals as much as I can, but wish I could run one on my own.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>I Can't Live Without...</strong><br />Sunshine, French Fries, Baking, My French Bulldog, Scout, and my fabulous and supportive partner, Matt.</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>What are you craving right now?<br /></strong>Well, because I just said french fries, I want some from Pommes Frites in Astor Place with mango sauce, please.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412327894800142738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sxxzi2mAEZI/AAAAAAAAAh8/KtDvXr7eFKg/s320/JENandZACK+034.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div><strong>Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong><br />The, Global Feminisms, exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum changed my life because it helped inspire me to do my own feminist art in my painting and sculpture class at Pace. I made a video that I was very proud of where I took an exacto knife and red food coloring and wrote words that people told me they think of when they hear "feminist." I wrote words such as "bitch," "bra-burner," "slut," "radical," "man-hater," and more. Then after I write all over my stomach, I wiped it off and wrote with a sharpie "FEMINIST" across my red stained stomach, and this all went along to the song "That's Not My Name" by the Ting Tings.<br /><br /><div><strong>What motivates you to do what you do?</strong><br />The reactions I get when I go into classrooms to teach younger students about sexual assault and rape. Sometimes the classes would not be very active in the conversation, but then other times the students would almost take the presentation from me and start teaching each other. To know that what I am teaching is making a difference in just one student's college career makes me invigorated to continue to give presentations. I always go in nervous, but when the students are excited, I get excited!</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412327889082168610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxxzihSutSI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Omua8LbSkZY/s320/JENandZACK+043.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><strong>If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?</strong><br />This is really hard. So I have to choose more than one.<br />Helen Keller- would love to see her strength in person.<br />Simone de Beauvoir- so that we could talk feminism.<br />Sojourner Truth- so I could witness her "Ain't I a Woman?" speech.<br />Jessica Valenti- because she. is. awesome.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412329046707286978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sxx0l5yEM8I/AAAAAAAAAic/kwW9_bRoY2o/s320/JENandZACK+102.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?<br /></strong>I would totally be in The Goonies. I would just be myself when I was that age, because I was a total tomboy and come from a working class family as well. To be honest it's an awesome movie, and I have just always wanted to ride the water slide in that friggin movie. </div><br /><div><strong>Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?<br /></strong>This is kind of a depressing moment but when I was 15 I finally came out about sexual abuse I endured when I was around 10 years old. Once I came out about it, I felt as if air was being blown into my lungs for the first time in a long time. I didn't have to hide behind the shame anymore because with therapy I realized it wasn't my fault. It also fueled my passion to help fight against sexual assault and rape. </div><br /><br /><div><strong>Talk about the best day ever.<br /></strong>Oh my. I'm not sure if it is the best day ever that has happened, or make up the best day ever. I'm going to make it up because that is more fun for me. I would wake up, take my dog to the park and then go with my partner, Matt, to a coffee shop for some breakfast. I would get a text saying a woman won the race for President of the United States. Then, I'd go to the farmers market for some fresh fruits, vegetables, and a bouquet of flowers. All the dogs and cats in shelters everywhere would find their forever homes. Matt would tell me he is not allergic to cats, and we would adopt one (my dog Scout would be very happy about this). I'd teach a women's studies class. Meet up with my best friend at Pommes Frites for lunch. Go to the beach. I would learn how to surf, knit, and horseback ride. Get a massage, take a nap in the park, book a trip to travel around Europe with Matt. Go home, make dinner, bake cookies and fall asleep to the TV show, The Office. </div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Create a Mandatory Reading List for the World...</strong></div><div>The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls</div><div>A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini</div><div>The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood</div><div>To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee</div><div></div><div></div><div><strong>Who Is/Are Your Hero(es)?</strong> </div><div>My Mother. </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412329039545292050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/Sxx0lfGg1RI/AAAAAAAAAiU/rYwyteXuIr0/s320/JENandZACK+085.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><p> </p><p>Check out more of Jenn Garvey's pictures at: <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/06/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/06/</a></p>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-9187464506737013612009-11-30T19:39:00.000-08:002009-12-01T20:19:15.712-08:00LAUREN McCULLOUGH<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410474724349748498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxXeGIsYpRI/AAAAAAAAAg8/nxdQe28lMd8/s320/laurenmccull+024.JPG" border="0" />I'm thrilled that the first person to be put up on the "PWWC" blog is one of my favorite people (now alumni) from the theatre department at Pace University, Lauren McCullough. She graduated with me in 2007 with a BFA in Acting and minor in psychology. Currently Lauren works as a voice over artist in NYC and aspires to be a drama therapist. She is a talented performer and wonderful person. To learn more about Lauren, visit her website at <a href="http://laurenmccullough.com/Home.html">http://laurenmccullough.com/Home.html</a> .<br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Who Are You?</strong><br />Lauren McCullough<br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>What do you believe in?</strong><br />I believe in love, and energy that connects us to each other and the earth.<br /><br /><strong>What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?</strong><br />I want people to work more from an empathic and sympathetic about the world around them.<br /><br /><strong>If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?</strong><br />Specifically...Is This Love - Bob Marley, Pretty the World - Matt Nathanson, Unknown Thought - Pearl Jam, That I Would be Good - Alanis Morisette, In Your Eyes - Peter Gabriel.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410474742341231394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxXeHLt44yI/AAAAAAAAAhU/fUkoBSnQh2k/s320/laurenmccull+100.JPG" border="0" /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it?<br /></strong>Go live in a house, with lots of land and trees. Record voiceovers from a home studio and work with kids using drama therapy.<br /><br /><strong>I Can't Live Without...</strong><br />Love and Laughter.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>What are you craving right now?</strong><br />Warmth and Sunshine.<br /><br /><strong>Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...</strong><br />Reading Romeo and Juliet for the first time. My entire life I have believed love is the most important thing in life. When I read Romeo and Juliet for the first time and saw the tragedy of the 2 dueling families instilled in me an eternal heartbreak for these universal misunderstandings that have occurred throughout time. And if people could just project love rather than hate there would be a lot less pain and suffering in the world. Our inability to love everyone destroys the world around us. And Romeo and Juliet is a perfect example of that. Even though these two young, naive lovers realize that love is the most important thing the world's inability to accept love forces them to do things that wouldn't need to happen<br />if their families would stop feeling hate.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410474727859935186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxXeGVxR19I/AAAAAAAAAhE/6e576Iy8gkU/s320/laurenmccull+028.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong>What motivates you to do what you do?</strong><br />Success, gratitude from others, knowing that I am doing something that effects the world around me.<br /><br /><strong>If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?<br /></strong>I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr lived his life in a way that goes hand in hand with how I would like the world to live and treat others. I would love to have been able to be a part of the work that he did. And passed it on to more people.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410474735371813986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxXeGxwQBGI/AAAAAAAAAhM/ATT3BmN1UVQ/s320/laurenmccull+093.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><strong>If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?<br /></strong>This is a really difficult question. We often project ourselves as a SPECIFIC character that ALREADY exists, so to be a new character that needs to be interwined within the story makes it extremely hard to figure out a place and purpose for myself. I think that if I were going to fit into a series I would choose La Femme Nikita, which is a show about a woman you works for a government agency that fights terrorism (almost like a female jack bauer but she's doing it against her will) I would also be an agent and would be her friend in the show. The one person she could confide in because one of the show's constant story lines is how Nikita can't trust anyone. She has no real friends (and certainly not female).<br /><br /><strong>Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it?</strong><br />When my Mom was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. It forced everything in my life to stop, and I had to stop thinking in terms of the future and the past. I could only live in the moment. Each day is a new day. And each day is a gift. I also realized that the one thing I have always<br />thought was most important, Love, had stopped being a priority in my life. I had stopped living my life to love and be loved. I am grateful for realizing this and being given another chance to live my life the way I want to. To make it count. Because our time is limited.<br /><br /><strong>Talk about the best day ever.</strong><br />It hasn't happened yet. But I know that it will.<br /><br /><strong>Who is/are your hero(es)?</strong><br />My Parents, My Grandmother </p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410474752007727986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hnm_l-Tl0rs/SxXeHvuj63I/AAAAAAAAAhc/gYBNhVcydM4/s320/laurenmccull+117.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />For more pictures of Lauren, visit: <a href="http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/01/">http://www.photoblog.com/ashleymarinaccio/2009/12/01/</a>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6106401283043086574.post-71575677464608061792009-11-23T16:10:00.000-08:002009-11-30T20:42:43.017-08:00COMING SOON!<div align="left">About People Who Want Change:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>* People Who Want Change *<br />Blog/Photo Project</strong><br /><br /><strong>How It Goes:</strong> We spend about 2 hours together at any location (your suggestions welcomed). Location should be chosen based on the first of the 14 questions listed below. I shoot on digital and/or film camera. You will be given copies of all your digital pictures. If you want your photo taken you must agree to answer the 14 questions (below) and have your best photos posted on the blog.<strong> <a href="http://www.peoplewhowantchange.blogspot.com/">http://www.peoplewhowantchange.blogspot.com/</a></strong>.<br /><br /><strong>Um... so... What's the Point?</strong> I don't quite know yet what the outcome will be. I'm doing this because I know A LOT of very fascinating socially engaged people doing exceptional work and I want to document it in some way/shape/form. I'm sure this may manifest itself into something different as time goes on.<br /><br /><strong>QUESTIONS:<br /></strong><br />1. Who Are You?<br />2. What do you believe in?<br />3. What kind of change do you want to see? Where do you see yourself fitting into your idea for change?<br />4. If your life had a soundtrack what would be on it?<br />5. If you could be doing anything with your life right now what would it be?<br />6. I Can't Live Without...<br />7. What are you craving right now?<br />8. Talk about a piece or art, performing arts, music or writing that changed your life...<br />9. What motivates you to do what you do?<br />10. If you were best friends with any historical figure who would it be and why?<br />11. If you were a character in your favorite fictional storyline (this could include a book, play, film, television series etc.) what would it be? How would your character be intertwined within the story line that already exists?<br />12. Talk about a defining moment of your life. What happened? What did you take away from it? 13.Talk about the best day ever.<br />14. Who is/are your hero(es)?<br /><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left">Wanna play? E-mail <a href="mailto:ashleymarinaccio@gmail.com">ashleymarinaccio@gmail.com</a> .</div>Ashleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08423951201115161943noreply@blogger.com0